We walked up the stairs towards the dining room then and I looked to Maya.

"I'm starving." I admitted and she nodded, flicking her hair back.

"I could eat a whole horse right about now." She commented and I grimaced at her words as we walked towards the orange glow of the room.

Suddenly, something gripped at my elbow, pulling me back out and I looked up to see Emut, his hand around my arm. I flitted my gaze back to the door to see that everyone had now walked in, the sound of laughter and clattering plates emanating into the hallway. I snapped back to look at Emut, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion to which he smiled slightly, his hair blowing with the afternoon wind.

"I feel like I haven't seen you today." He murmured, his deep voice running along my spine and making me shudder. I frowned slighty at his words.

"We were just together a minute ago." I remarked to which he laughed slightly.

"I suppose we were." Was all he said, his golden eyes staring into me. I maintained the eye contact as I spoke.

"Although it has been a while since we've hung out, especially without the training sessions we had back home." I noted and Emut's eyes lit up at my words.

"You called it home." He stated, a curious tone in his voice and I nodded with a small smile.

"Because it is." I said simply, speaking out the feelings that were in my head for a while now. Going back to Earth had reinforced that for me now and I didn't regret the decision I had made.

He didn't say anything else on the matter besides nodding before gazing to my form slowly.

"It suits you." He commented, his eyes on my attire and I blushed profusely, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

"Thanks." I muttered weakly to which Emut raised an eyebrow in question, a smirk on his face. I glared in response to which he laughed slightly, brushing a hand through his brown locks.

"No, I mean it. You should wear it more often." He added genuinely, making me redden even more, if it was possible. He laughed more at this before flicking the top of my hat, making me grumble in annoyance.

"I could say the same to you." I joked before raising myself on tiptoes due to his tall form. He watched with an intent golden gaze as I took the straw hat off my head and placed it onto him, making a smile break out on his face.

"See, look how good you look." I teased, my hands still on the borders of the hat as he looked to me with a smile. I wasn't lying with that statement; he could make a trash bag look good as a hat.

He raised an eyebrow at my words as I let my arms drop to side.

"Really? Well, I'll take your word for it." He joked before pulling the hat off and twirling it with a finger.

"But, I won't do it as much justice as you did." He added with a shrug, placing it back in my hands before walking around me and to the dining room door.

"Come on." He called and I shook my head with a smile before placing the hat against my head and turning to follow him.

At this point, everyone was sat in their trademark seats and I rushed over to Ayla's side as she chewed down on her food. Smiling, I turned as Emut remained standing at the front of the table, a serious look on his face. He looked miles away from his playful demeanour and we all raised our heads to look at him, knowing he had something to say. He kept his vacant gaze to the distance as though he was reminiscing. He seemed to hesitate for a few moments before he spoke.

"I should have prepared us for today in the sea caves. It was a mistake to lead you all to place where we had no idea what we were up against. I need to make sure that doesn't happen again." He began, his voice tinged with anger and it was directed to himself.

I wanted to protest then, but knew it wouldn't be good to intervene when he was speaking. Of course, Demir didn't share the same sentiments and the sound of him scoffing broke the small terse silence.

"Are you truly going to blame yourself for something none of us were aware of? We had all thought of those creatures as nothing but lore." He retorted, sitting back against his chair, a look of annoyance on his face and Emut sighed heavily, casting his firm gaze to Demir.

"A good leader takes into account all facets of possibilities to ensure minimum consequence, even those classed as lore." He finalised, leaving no room to question to which Demir stayed quiet, but the look on his face showed he didn't agree with that logic.

Emut waited for the silence to set in before sighing.

"I want to continue searching, but not at the expense of anyone's safety. I need to ensure that we're fully aware of what to expect for the next key." He reasoned and I nodded.

"Where is the next key?" Abrax asked and Emut glanced towards Demir before sighing yet again.

"In the Jungle of Allayl." He said simply and Maya groaned loudly at this.

"How are we to find it in such a large vast area?!" She bit out frustrated and Demir shook his head, leaning further back in his chair.

"We'll find them in the Ruins of Babi." He explained to which Emut nodded and I frowned.

"What's that?" I asked, confused by the new names and places that were just thrown at me in the past 2 minutes. Maya sighed before turning to me.

"The Jungle of Allayl can be found on the border of Centaurae province where we had gone, remember that?" She questioned and I nodded. That was where I had killed the commander as well as where I had seen the Bakenanouke. I shuddered at this, but remembered how the province had looked, it had tall large trees where the houses resided in. She took a sip of her drink before continuing.

"Well, long before humans came about, the gods used to live on Earth and the Jungle of Allayl is where Babi- the God of baboons had constructed his palace. Now, that they reside in Duat, his palace has long since collapsed into ruins- they're known to us as the Ruins of Babi." She finished explaining and I nodded as I processed the boat load of information.

"So, that's where the Miftah of Uranus will be?" I asked for further clarification and Emut nodded before frowning slightly. He leaned his palms against the table, making his biceps flex as he looked to us.

"Just like the sea caves, there have been many stories about the jungle and I think it would be unwise to ignore them again." He began and Maya muttered a curse under her breath.

"What kinds of stories?" Ayla asked, her voice slightly shaky and I held her hand in comfort. She smiled to me briefly before turning her tepid gaze back to Emut who sighed deeply.

"Stories about travellers looking to find the treasures of Babi in the jungle and not returning; stories about a creature that resides in the jungle." He said darkly and I tensed at the ominous tone to his voice.

Demir merely sighed at this before placing his cup down.

"Well, we have to face it sooner or later. What are we waiting for?" He said tiredly, getting up yet halting when the sound of my stomach grumbling in hunger echoed across the room.

He raised an eyebrow at this before sitting himself back down and Emut smiled teasingly before speaking.

"First things first, feed Hanna." He joked and I grabbed a bunch of grapes from the middle before throwing it to him which he effortlessly ducked from.

Jerk.

He laughed slightly before turning to look at the rest of us.

"I want us to enjoy the rest of the day off. We'll leave as soon as daylight ends and night hits."

****************

Drying my hands on the back of my shorts, I made my way out of the courtyard exit and to the barn.

After planning to reconvene for the next key in the evening, we had finished eating and I had told Ayla I wanted some time alone to hone my powers. If we were truly to face any dangers, I needed to be more prepared also.

Walking towards the barn door, I smiled at the familiar sight of Demir, lying down on a stack of hay and sharpening his glaive.

"Oh, look, a local farmer boy in his natural habitat." I teased, giggling when Demir rolled his eyes at the sound of my voice.

"Oh, look, a pain in my ass." He muttered unenthusiastically, his eyes not even glancing to me. Unfazed, I moved in before sitting near his lying form to which he gave me a quick glance.

"I was wondering if you have any eggs for me today?" I continued playfully and Demir smiled slightly, his biceps flexing as he sharpened with efficient grace.

"If I say yes, will you go away?" He asked poignantly and I gaped jokingly.

"Not without my eggs, of course." I said dramatically and Demir laughed slightly before turning to me and raising an eyebrow.

"You do realise that chickens aren't kept in a barn, right?" He asked in a-matter-of-fact tone and I stilled at his words, smiling sheepishly.

"Of course?" I said feebly and Demir rolled his eyes before placing his glaive away and gesturing to a backwards direction boredly.

"The chicken coop is a little way past the well." He remarked and I turned to where he gestured before looking at him with a frown.

"It wasn't that necessary to explain." I bit out, feeling miffed at not knowing that and Demir smirked slightly, a dull look in his eyes.

"Oh? And, what kind of farmer boy would I be, if I let you think such dim-witted things?" He mused, his voice playfully harsh as he referred to what I called him and I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms.

"If I'm not mistaken I'd say you were peeved at the name, Demir." I drawled with a smile as he let out a small scoff before looking to the ceiling and placing his arms behind his head. His biceps flexed with the movement.

"You're mistaken then." He retorted simply and I let out a huff, crossing my legs and leaning back on my palms. I let my gaze flit to his long legs that went over the side of the hay and to the ground.

"Why are your legs so long?" I muttered and Demir frowned at my words.

"What kind of senseless question is that?" He asked in a callous tone and I shrugged heavily, a smile on my face.

"Excuse me for being curious." I lamented to which he rolled his eyes and turned to me.

"Why is your hair so long then?" He countered, his eyes flitting to the dark waves that descended down my back. I had left the sunhat on the dining table when I had eaten and, now, sitting next to his lying form, the tendrils were within reaching distance of his face.

Instead of replying like he had, I gripped some of my hair in my hand and looked to it thoughtfully.

"I don't know, I just never had the heart to cut it." I mumbled out and Demir looked to the ceiling of the barn yet again.

"Too attached?" He asked jokingly, his deep voice echoing across the small area and I shrugged slightly.

"I have no clue, but I'm fond of it like this. Who knows though- perhaps, I'll cut it in the near-distant future." I mused and Demir scoffed at my words.

"Don't be stupid." He muttered, brushing a hand through his dark locks and my eyebrows furrowed at his words.

"Stupid about what?" I asked and his eyes glanced briefly to a lock of my hair that tickled against his elbow as he lay with his hands behind his head.

"Stupid about what? Need I make a list, Hanna?" He teased, turning to look at me and I ignored the taunt and brushed a hand through my waves. He watched me intently as I did so.

"So, you think it looks nice long then?" I mumbled curiously, reading between the lines and Demir let out a tired sigh before lifting his head up to look fully at my hair.

I fidgeted under his intense gaze until he finally lay back down.

"Leave it the way it is." He instructed simply and I rolled my eyes with a smile before crossing my legs to sit properly.

"My hair, my choice. No more being bossed about." I retorted teasingly, half expecting for Demir to roll his eyes, but instead his gaze snapped to me, an eyebrow raised.

"Was that what it was like? Living with those humans?" He questioned to which I let out a small bitter laugh.

"You think Debra would pay to get me a haircut?" I asked rhetorically and Demir frowned.

"I'm not talking about a choice in haircut; I'm talking about everything else." He answered, looking to me with his vivid eyes and I couldn't help myself from letting out a bigger laugh that sounded more resentful than the last.

"Demir, you met her for less than an hour yet I think even you could tell she didn't care in the slightest." I responded pointedly and Demir scowled, settling back down.

"I still stand by my words then." He said bluntly and I nudged his leg with my palm.

"We are not hanging them by their ankles with a cut to let them slowly bleed out." I said sternly and Demir frowned yet again.

"Of course not, balid, that would stop the oxygen to the brain and alter their alertness. I'd prefer they stay aware." He answered back as though it was common knowledge and I nodded with a smile, acting as though I was in thought.

"Oh? Shall we just stick to the brave bull, was that what had Maya had recommended once for Anouke?" I mused, deciding to play along. He looked to me at my words, his eyes scanning my face.

"Brazen bull and I don't think you would be fond of that." He corrected and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"And why not?" I asked, not even sure I wanted to know, even more so when Demir smirked slightly.

"A bronze contraption you lock your victims in, so you can roast them alive." He said simply and I let out a sound of indignation at his words, making him smile slightly.

"That is sick, you know that." I mumbled out, placing my hair behind my ear. Demir raised an eyebrow at this.

"It contained these pipes that would convert the screams of its victims into music." He drawled, watching my reaction carefully. Instead of being appalled at his words this time, I raised an eyebrow back.

"You speak as though you're familiar with this device'?" I stated, looking to him with careful eyes. He remained poker-faced and shrugged in a noncommittal manner.

"Perhaps." He answered vaguely and I felt the nausea at the thought of using a torture method that would cause such pain, even if it was for the enemy.

"Perhaps? That's all you have to say about the use of such a disgusting contraption?" I questioned calmly although I felt the subtle irritation at his casualness. Demir frowned at my words as he looked to me.

"What do you want me to say?" He retorted and I faltered at his words before leaning forward on my hand.

"I'd expect there to be a little emotion attached when speaking about it, at least." I bit back and Demir raised his eyebrow in response.

"Why?" He responded just as quick and I shook my head in annoyance.

"So, you can show some semblance of what it's like to be a human." I answered to which Demir laughed slightly before raising himself up. My eyes widened in response when his face was a few inches away from mine, his grey gaze burning into my own.

"I won't show some semblance to what I'm not, Hanna." He remarked and I rolled my eyes at his words, feeling shocked that he would think like that. I knew he was cold and callous, but not ruthless. Yes, he hated the Chigaru, but I had thought there was some inkling of emotion within him.

"Of course, you wouldn't. I'd have hoped you'd at least hold some sense of remorse or regret." I admitted weakly, searching for any or those desirable emotions, but he merely stared at me with the same blank expression. I tried not to cower from his intense gaze. It was a few beats of silence before he spoke.

"You know, I'd expect nothing less than for you to think I'd do something like that." He murmured in a disdainful tone and my eyebrows furrowed at his words.

"Do something like what?" I replied to which he scowled, leaning back onto his palms.

"You can draw your own conclusions." He said briskly, looking to the wall and I folded my arms.

"Oh, so you just happened to hear the music? Tell me, Demir, what did the screams of dying victims sound like?" I seethed to which he shrugged, almost tiredly.

"I wouldn't know." He answered and my eyebrows furrowed at his words.

"What do you m-" I began, but Demir cut me off.

"Because I was the one inside." He said, his dull gaze on the wall and I faltered at his words.

I was an idiot.